DARDANELLE - The Dardanelle City Council voted Monday night to request that a full environmental impact statement be conducted for the proposed intermodal facility on the Arkansas River.

"I recommend that the City of Dardanelle join with other interested parties to oppose any further action on the part of the Intermodal Facilities Authority until the environmental impact statement [EIS] is properly performed and presented," City Attorney Ken Helton read from a letter he had written to Dardanelle Mayor Carolyn McGee.

The facility, which would feature a slackwater harbor and shipping facilities, would be located on the Russellville side of the river across from Dardanelle.

Helton said that the city does not know what kind of an impact the Intermodal facility would have on the region, but the city would be directly affected.

The EIS would provide a lot of specifically outlined answers for the city, according to Jim Wood, representative for the wildlife association.

Other interested parties who want to be plaintiffs to help get the EIS through to the Supreme Court include the Yell County Wildlife Association, landowners and business owners, according to Wood.

"[They] would like to do something and be heard on the matter," Wood said.

Helton said that he had met with Richard Mays, an attorney in Little Rock, and had also discussed the issue with other attorneys.

Legal fees will have to be paid by the city to Mays for the work he will be doing for the city at an amount of $7,500, which is half of the total $15,000, plus publication costs, according to Helton.

"I would rather do something now than be sorry later for the residents," Alderman Jimmy George said.

The council also approved three ordinances during the meeting.

An ordinance to control dogs and cats and other pets and animals was amended and passed.

A proposed ordinance requiring premises to be kept free from weeds, rank grass, garbage, rubbish and other unsightly and unsanitary articles; requiring property owners to eliminate, fill up or remove stagnant pools of water or any other unsanitary thing, place or condition, which harmful germs to the health of the community; prescribing a procedure to be followed in such cases, and for other purposes was amended and passed.

An ordinance permitting Mayor Carolyn McGee and aldermen to conduct business with the City of Dardanelle under certain circumstances and for other purposes was also passed by the council.

Larry Shepherd was presented with a plaque by McGee for his nine years of service as secretary on the Planning Commission 1994-2002. Jere Johnson will replace Shepherd on the commission, but not as secretary.

After addressing the council, it approved for Dardanelle Police Chief Montie Sims to advertise and solicit for bids on a new 2003 police vehicle to not exceed $20,530.

State contracts through the Office of State Procurement in Little Rock had been used in the past to purchase vehicles, but a Chevrolet Impala police package is not on state contracts, according to Sims.

The contracts are used so that vehicles can be purchased in bulk to sell to the cities and counties at a cheaper price, Sims said.